So I have decided to add some more indoor walking. While it may look like I am fairly active with my 14.000 step goal, it doesn't feel like it at all. I have from the moment I wake up, until bedtime to get those steps in. It isn't really a challenge for me. I step every time I have to wait for something: while brushing my teeth, when I walk Tinus outside, when I am boiling water for my tea, when I preheat the oven, etc. It is pretty easy to rack up a decent amount of steps that way, and when I am a little low for the hour of the day, I just step some in my livingroom. I feel like it does nothing for my fitness though.
I am also very much in lazy winter mode and I just want to be indoors, drinking tea, have a blanket and Tinus on my lap and do nothing. Not working out, sweating my butt off and having to shower daily with the abysmal enery prices. I am kind of over doing things I don't want to do, so I won't. But because I do want to do something more, I will start doing more intentional step sessions with some upbeat music. I like Flower Power radio for this. You can just listen in their browser: https://www.flowerpowerradio.com/ Most songs are pretty happy and fast, so it is nice to step to. I think this will be better for getting my heart rate up, and hopefully my resting heart rate down. When I started eating less and healthier in October, my RHR already dropped +/-12 points without excercise, but it is still not great I think.
Currently I am doing 3 sets of 30 minutes of energetic stepping. One in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. I plan to hit my 14.000 steps within my active hours (7:00-19:00) so the last 30 minute slot will be extra steps as well. I should end up with around 17.500+ steps that way.
There are 'better' ways to work out for sure, but this is all I am currently up to doing. No need to leave the house, no need to change clothes, no need to get super sweaty, no need to pay any money. But I do benefit from getting my heart rate up, having fun with some music, decreasing my screen time and probably burning some more calories.
I know this is a wall of text, but I just wanted to write it out for myself. I wish I had the *whatever it is* to go for walks outside (I miss taking pictures), but I can't bring myself to do it lately. Though if there is snow, I will make an exception!
Happy Sunday everyone

@leni1us Sorry about your mom. I hope she recovers well, but I imagine the dementia really complicates things.

@Bumbinella Congrats on your wedding! Finally! I'm sure it was worth the weight. Covid was so challenging for major life events that we all really need to celebrate. Vienna is a great city! Love a sacher torte (maybe why I'm always trying to lose weight -ha! ha!

@TexanMom8152 Thanks for the kind words. I feel your pain about the decorating. We have a place in Texas and in Colorado. Almost finished decorating for the holidays in Colorado- our son comes home tonight! But I still put out a few yard things at the in Houston. Maybe it's a Texas thing? Our weather is so not Christmasy that you just crave a little winter decor?

SavageMrsMoose wrote: »

@leni1us Sorry about your mom. I hope she recovers well, but I imagine the dementia really complicates things.

Thanks @SavageMrsMoose. It is hard seeing your mom deteriorate over the years. Dementia is a terrible disease. Our goal is to make sure she feels loved and cared for even if she doesn't always know who we are.

Nataliewr0403
Steps
12/4 10,044
12/5 8,192
12/6 9,170
12/7 7,425
12/8 7,617
12/9 7,791
12/10 9,597
I know my steps are low this week and I don't expect to improve for the next 2 weeks because work will be brutal and taking my fur baby to PT 3 times a week does not help with the issue.
In the other hand, I finished week 1 of a workout course I am taking and even though my weight did not change much...or at all, and today I tried a dress that was tight in September, could barely zip it up, and now is a bit lose, something I did not expect at all. Small wins right?

Hope you all have a great week

Nataliewr0403 wrote: »

Nataliewr0403
Steps
12/4 10,044
12/5 8,192
12/6 9,170
12/7 7,425
12/8 7,617
12/9 7,791
12/10 9,597

Hey @Nataliewr0403 ...got your steps recorded. I'm assuming this is your request to sign up for the Dec step challenge. I need to know what you want your daily step goal to be, as remember, this doesn't automatically roll over...you must re-sign up each month. Let me know.
Jessica

@jessicakrall8 hi Jessica, got it, well this month will be silly for time to try to count steps. I rather skip December and come back full force in January.

weigh in: Sunday
CW: 193.1
PW: 190.9

steps
Sunday 3901
Monday 3091
Tuesday 3165
Wednesday 2147
Thursday 3527
Friday 2312
Saturday 5753

12/8-5,790
12/9-11,769
12/10-9,972
12/11-14,441

Hello Shape Shifters! Hope everyone has a great week! It appears I have more than enough company with sick pets in this group... @angmarie28 hope your cat recovers quickly. Sounds awful. And you just seem to have more than your share going on. Hoping things ease up for you soon.

@Pupowl I love puzzles so much too! I do get compulsive though. I dream about them when I am almost finished. I know that's odd.

@Nataliewr0403 How is the PT going with your dog? Did I remember that right from the earlier post? We start today with Buddy. I was a bit skeptical, but willing to try anything.

So far, this week is going to be quiet- I hope. Would like to stay put and get back in my exercise schedule. Oh, and maybe log food past breakfast and actually complete my diary??? Funny- I do so much better when I log my food. Crazy right! HAHA!

Hey yall.
Wi is on Monday
Currently 217.8
Pwi: 217.8

Susanna527 wrote: »

Jessica, do I need to do something more "official" in order to leave the group? I didn't see anything, but I could've missed it.
Susanna

@Susanna527 I'll take care of it for you. Very sorry to see you go, but it sounds like you're swamped right now just taking care of life. I totally understand. If you'd like to return once things calm down, please feel free to send me a quick message or post to our current thread and we'll get you active again. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and that things with your health get better. Take care of yourself! We'll miss you!
Jessica

jessicakrall8 wrote: »

Nataliewr0403 wrote: »

@jessicakrall8 hi Jessica, got it, well this month will be silly for time to try to count steps. I rather skip December and come back full force in January.

@Nataliewr0403 So, you want me to delete the week of steps you just reported? Up to you, but you've got a good start there...think about it and let me know...
Jessica

I will give it a try, just keep my steps and I will try to get some not so horrid numbers

@SavageMrsMoose Yes, I am the one that takes my baby to PT 3 times a week for a little over 3 months now, to say the least PT is a commitment. We also spend about 2 hours daily working with her to keep some progress going.
She went from fully paralyzed back legs with no control going to the bathroom to almost no bathroom accidents and about 70% recovery on 1 leg and about 40% on the other.
Honestly, if I would have known the outcome of her surgery in July, I would probably gone a different way. Quality of life, right?. this is the hard question every fur parents has to face, when we decide to let them go has to be because it is no life for them.
The group where I take her for PT are 2 great ladies that constantly try new things, and I would recommend you do your searches too, read about the breed, go to forums, and check other people's experiences. if you find something interesting, suggest it to the PT person,
I did a lot of reading on knuckling, braces, slings...hopefully you will not need any of them but if you do let me know so I can share my searches.

TexanMom8152 wrote: »

@Pupowl That puzzle you shared was over the top! I like doing puzzles myself (I'm the only one in my house that enjoys them), but don't have dedicated room to work on very complex ones.

To have a room to dedicate to puzzles! What a fantasy! I just don't let my family eat at the table when I've got one going!! LOL My daughter has the bug too! My son will help occasionally too. I've gotten my dad addicted as well. He needs the larger pieces to manipulate and see but I think they are good for his brain. I agree - @Pupowl - it's a lovely puzzle! The underwater lifes are some of my favorites- the animals and bright colors. I especially like the puzzles within the puzzle in yours.

@Nataliewr0403 thank you for the tips. I'm so happy to hear yours has improved so much! We live in a very remote area, and I was shocked to learn that there is a vet in a town 1.5 hours away that will come to do house calls. She came yesterday and we have 4 exercises to do each day until she comes next week. It involves lots of treats so Buddy likes it.

He has another tumor that they suspect is cancerous and want to remove and follow up with radiation. I'm trying to set up an appointment to talk to them in January- its an 8-9 hour drive and the weather can be bad- but I'm a bit on the fence. It's near his spine- what if it makes his problems worse?

And I just want to say to @jessicakrall8 - you are the kindest person. Every post of yours is positive and supportive. Plus all the effort you put into this group! You're family is very lucky to have you.

I plan on re-joining the steps challenge in January. I've needed a break from my smart watch. I can get compulsive with it. Wearing it constantly, running up and down the stairs to burn 10 more calories before bed type of thing...

Happy Tuesday all!